Electrical apparatus



I y APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. i917. n 1,391,967. PatentedSept. 27, 1921,

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ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

W. B. MOSES.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION man MAR. 6. 1917.

1,39 1,967. V Patented Sept. 27, 1921.

2 SHEET-SHEET 2.

' ignition and generating systems and circuit,

PATENTv OFFICE.

` WILLIAM B. MOSES, 0F BROOKLINE, MASSCHUSETTS.

, ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letterslatent. Patented Sept. 27, 1921.

Application led March 6, 1917. Serial No. 152,542.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. Mosiisj a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brookline, in the vcounty of Norfolk and State' of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. l

This invention relates to electrical apparatus for use withinternal combustion engines, and with regard to certain more specific features thereof to electric starting,

controlling devices therefor. n

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a simple and compact circuit controlling device for use in connection with electrical systems of the character above mentioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reliably operative automatic switch which shall be durable and inexpensive [to manufacture.

V Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a conductor having a thermostatic characteristic, which conductor is adapted to serve an automatically operative latch for holding the contacts of the generator, battery and ignition circuits in closed position until released 'manually' orV under the influence of abnormal' current flow. The combination of such a'conductor or thermostatic latch with a switch carrier and means of simple and compact construction for temporarily making a starting motor circuit and simultaneously insuring against a closed generator circuit is still another feature of the invention.

In systems of the character mentioned it is usual to employ a storage or secondary battery from which the electrical energy is supplied to the starting motor to give the engine its initial compression. The battery may also be used ft/operate the ignition device or a magneto may be used for this latter purpose. The. present invention has an important application to a system employing battery ignition and another of the objects of the invention is to safe-guard the battery and other delicate appliances and protect the whole against accidental or unnecessary discharge of the battery.

- Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the various features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified by the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the drawingswherein are shown two of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Figurel is a sectional view of the circuit Y controlling device embodying the invention.

An electricr starting, generating and ignition system being shown in connection therewith in schematic form (the circuit controlling device being shown in so-called off Vposition 2).

Fig. 2 is the same as Fig. l except that the parts ofthe circuit controlling device are shown inl so-called starting position.

Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. l except that the parts of the circuit controlling device are shown in so-called running position.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 show diiferent vviews of the circuit controlling device.

Fig. 8 is a view of a modification of the invention showing its application to a system employing magneto ignition.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views there is indicated at 1 alterminal block or casing which in the battery ignition embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. l, Qand 3 contains four terminals numbered respectively 2, 3, 4 and 5. The terminalblock i is housed by a casing 6 anda cover plate 7 the latter being provided with v suitable meansy 8 for attaching the whole structure to the dash of an automobile or to any suitable panel. In electrical connection with terminal 2 is a yieldable contact 9 and such for instance as steelrand brass weldedA together with the steel strip on the outside of the coil in order that the depending or free end 16 will tend to flex or warp out wardlyv as the heating increases. The f'ree end 16 t the coil 15 carries a contact pin 17 adapted to engage with certain movable contacts in a manner which will more fully hereinafter appear.

Nithin the casing 6 there is provided a movable contactncarrying member 18 equipped with a push button 19 by which it may be manually operated from the olf position shown in Fig. 1 to the starting position shown in Fig. 2. This movement takes place against the action of a spring 2O coiled around a stem 21, which has its lower `end journaled in a bore 22 in the terminal block 1. The -push button 19 is preferably o cylindrical form and protrudes through a circular aperture 23 in the cover plate 7, the latter serving somewhat as a guide or bearing and coperating with the terminal block to support and guide the contactcarrying member 13. The body portion 24 of the member 18 is of conducting material and is provided with a knife contact 25 adapted to engage the fixed con tact 10 when the device is in starting and running positions. A flat contact portion 26 is also termed on the body 24 of the meni-- ber 18 and this portion is adapted to engage with the flexible contact 9 when the device is in starting position asshown clearly in Fig. 2 of' the drawings. ln addition to the two contacts 25 and 26 of' the member 16 there is a conducting arm 27 having a contact portion 28 with which the pin 17 of the thermostatic device 15 is adapted to engage when the device is in running position. kIt is also desirable that the contact pin 17 should have electrical communication with body 24 ol the member 1,8 when the device is in starting position and to this end there is provided a flexible. contact strip 29 attached to and in electrical communication with the conductor arm 27. A block 30 of insulating material is secured on the under side and end of the conductor arm27 and this vblock is formed with a lower camv face 31 and an upper cam Vface 32. It will be noted Vthat when the parts are in oil po sition as shown in Fig. 1 the block 30 assumes a position with its cam face 32 somewhat above pin 17, so that the latter rests againstcam face 31. In fact the pin 17 bears with some pressure against this cam face 31 due to the original condition of flex of the coil 15, which when lax causes pin 17 to rest in a vertical plane with the contact 28 substantially as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Manually operative means are provided, comprising a small push button 33, and a link connection 34 between this button and the pin 17, whereby the operator may disengage contacts 17 and 18 at will.

The circuits and electrical devices are as follows: A storage battery is indicated at 40, a starting motor at 41; a generator is provided as indicated at 42 to recharge the storage battery and furnish the current for lights and ignition and an ignition device isrrepresented generally at 43 with its coil at 44. An automatic or magnetic switch is shown at 45 arranged in the starting circuit.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: From the position shown in Fig. 1 the operator by a movement of the push button 19 causes the contact-carrying member 18 to move inwardly to bring the contacts 9 and 26 into engagement. This closes an electrical circuit from the storage battery 40 to ground through the conductor 46, coil 47 of the automatic switch, conductor 48, terminal 2, contacts 9 and 26, body 24, contacts 25 and 10, terminal 3, conductors 49 and 50 to the negative side of the battery. 95 '.The energization ofl the solenoid 47 bridging the contacts 51 and 52 of the switch' completes a circuit from the battery through the starting motor through the automatic switch, conductors 53 and 50 to battery 100 whereupon thc starting motor operates to set in motion the internal combustion engine (not shown).

It will be apparent that the inward more* ment of the contact-carrying member to the 105 starting position shown in F ig. 2 carries the insulating block 30 to its lower-most posi.- tion allowing the spring pressed contact 17 to ride over the cam faces 31 and 32 into engagement with the `contact 29.

In this manner an electrical circuit is cstablished through the ignition device substantially simultaneously with the energization of the starting motor. The ignition circuit is from battery to ground through 115 the conductor 60, primary coil 61, interrupter 62, conductor 63, terminal 5, contact 12, upright 13, pin 14, thermostatic conductor 15, contact pin 17, contact linger 29, body'24 of the contact-carrying member. 120 contacts 25 and 10, terminal 3, conductors 49 and 50 to negative battery.

It is to be noted that the insulating block is provided with a nose which in the inward or downward movement ot the con- 125 tact-carrying member to the starting posii tion engages the Contact finger 11 to push it out of engagement with contact 12. This opens the generatorror charging circuit during the starting operation. The engine havy130 ing started, "the operator removes yhis hand from the push button 19 allowing the yspring 20 to act upon7 the member 18 to restore it toward Vits original position, full return of thesame `is prevented, however, by the spring action of the. thermostatic device 15, the pin 17 being at this vtime in engagement with contact 28 of the conductor arm 27. Member 18 therefore returns substantially to the position shownk in Fig. 3 of the drawings whereit is held until such time as the operator may push the button 33, or the thermostatic device maybe operated by high current `values to ,automatically move outwardly overcam face 32.

Fig. 3 of the drawings shows the running position. The automatic switch circuit having been opened at contacts 26 and 9 the motorcircuit is denergized. The ignition circuit remains substantially the 4same eX- cept that said circuit may be closed through either theconta'ct 28 or the contact 29. The generator circuit is from the positive brush of the generator to ground to battery through conductor 50 and49, terminal 3, contacts 10 and 25, member 18, conductor arm 27, contacts 28 and 17, thermostat-ic coil-15, pin 14:, upright 13,9contacts 12 and 11, terminal 4, conductor vback to generator.

Assuming now, forinstance, a stalled condition of the engine, the storage battery 40 will immediately tend to dischargethrough .the generator orignition device or one or both of them at thatftime in a closed circuit including the thermostatic coil 15. This higher orfabnormal current value in the coil willcause rapid heating of the metals contained therein and theieXpansio-n of the brass being greater than that ofthe steel and the steel being on the outsideof the coil, the lower or,` free end 16 of the coil `will warp or flex outwardly vtoward the casing over the cam face 32v ofthe insulation block 30 .to apoint whereit is'fiee'and clear of the entire block. n The; spring. y2O will then instantly -return theV contact-carrying member with all of its contacts and appurtenances to its original oroff position shown in `Fig. 1.. It is pointed outthat the same effect may be obtained by the operator pushing inwardly on the button 33 as the link 34 is yoked aroundthe pin 17 It will be apparent that there are conditions otherlthan that of a stalled engine-which would cause the thermostatic switch tooperate.

In the modiiicationsshown in Fig.A 8 the construction .is substantially.'A the same for the battery, starting switch and startingV motor circuits, in this instance, however, .it is expectedzthat amagnetowill be `used Afor ignitionpurposes anda n ose 77 is provided on'an insulating .block corresponding tothe blockBO which inthe operative position of the apparatus holds contacts 178 and 79 out of engagement. When the thermostatic switch operates in this case to permit the spring 2O to restore the parts to their original position the contacts 78 and 79 will close short circuiting the magneto.

As many changes might be made in the above construction and as many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention might be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the following description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense. `Having described the invention what I claim is: Y

1. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an ignition device for an internal combustion engine, a generator, an electric circuit including said ignition device and said generator and having means other than said generator for supplying current to said ignition device, and a thermostatic device in circuit adapted to be influenced by predetermined current values to .automatically alter the `operative condition of said circuit, and means for manually effecting such alteration in circuit conditions. 2. In apparatus of the character described,

`in combination, an ignition (device for an' internal combustion engine, a generator, an electric circuit including said ignition devicey and said generator and having means other than said generator for supplying current to said ignition device and a thermostatic device in circuit adapted to be influenced by predetermined current values to automatically alter the operative condition of said circuit and means for manually operating said thermostatic deviceV to effect such alteration in circuit condition.

3. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, anv ignition circuit terminal, a battery circuit terminal, contacts connecting therewith, one of which contacts is adapted to have a thermostatic action, movable contact means coperative with the first said contacts to control the circuit condition of said terminals, andmeans coperative with .the Contact having the thermostatic action, adapted to cause said contact while serving as a conductor to also serve as a latch to hold the contacts in closed circuit position.` f

L1. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an ignition circuit terminal,

a generator circuit terminal and a battery circuit terminal, lseparable contactsfor closing and opening circuits through said terminals, one of said contacts being a conductor of resilient material having a thermostatic characteristic," kadapted to act to latch the contacts in closed circuit position and operate thermostatically to unlatch said con.- tacts.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a storage battery, generator and ignition devices, and electric circuits therefor, of a controlling switch for-said circuits comprising a manually operable carrier having contacts, fixed contacts adapted to be engaged by certain oi said carrier contacts, and a spring conductor serving to contact with another carrier contactandl latch the carrier in contact engaging position, said conductor having a thermostatic characteristic adapted to cause it to move to unlatching position under the influence of abnormal current values.

G. In apparatus ot theJ character described, the combination with a storage battery, generator and ignition devices, and electric circuits therefor, of a controlling switch tor said circuits comprising a manually operable carrier having contacts, fixed contacts adapted to be engaged by certain of said carrier contacts, and a spring conductor serving to contact with another carrier contact and latch the carrier in contact engaging position, said conductor having a thermostatic characteristic adapted to cause it .to move automatically to open circuiting and unlatching position under the influence of abnormal current values.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a storage battery, ignition devices, and electric circuits therefor, of a controlling switch for said circuits comprising a Vcontact carrier, a fixed contact adapted to `be engaged by one of the carrier contacts, and a resilient conductor member, having a thermostatic characteristic, said conducting member being arranged to flex into position to latch the carrier in contact engaging position and adapted under the iniuence oi' certain current values to flex into unlatching position.

8. In apparatus of the character described, in combination,l a series ot terminals, a resilient contact connected to one of said terminals, another resilient contact for connecting a pair of said terminals, a starting circuit including the first said contact, generator and ignition circuits closed through said second contact, a contact carrier member, a spring for urging saidmember into contact disengaging position, means for manually urging said carrier against said spring to temporarily close a circuit through the irst said resilient contact and move the second said contact to open circuit position, a storage battery, and a thermostat in circuit therewith, said thermostat being yieldable out ci the path of said car 1ier and adapted to snap into latching relation with said carrier to hold same in running position against the action of said spring, and saidy thermostat being adapted to be' influenced out ot latching relation by currentk flow from said battery.

9. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a series of terminals, a resilient contact connected to one of said terminals, another resilient contact for connecting a pair of said terminals, a starting circuit including the rst said contact, generator and ignition circuits closed through said second contact, a Acontact carrier member, a spring for urging said member into contact disengaging position, means for manually urging said carrier against said spring to temporarily close a circuit through the rst said resilient contact and move the second said contact to open circuit position, a storage battery, a thermostat in circuit therewith, said thermostat being yieldable out of the path of said carrier and adapted to snap into latching relation with saidl carrier to hold same in running position against theJ action of said spring, and said thermostat being adapted to be influ-V enced out of latching relation by current iiow from said battery, and a manually operable member connected t0 said thermostat whereby the latter may be moved manually to unlatching position.

l0. In a switch for the electrical system of internal combustion engines, in combination, a carrier having a plurality of contacts, a base having a plurality of contacts, contacts of the base and carrier being normally disengaged by a spring urging the carrier away from the base, means for moving said carrier into contact engaging position, and a thermostatic conductor member having a free contacting end adapted to engage with contact means on said carrier when the latter is moved, said conductor member serving thereafter to prevent full return of the carrier, and said conductor member being adapted to move under the influence of higher than normal current values to automatically release the carrier.

1l. A switch comprisingv in combination terminals for starting, battery, generator, and ignition circuits, contacts for said terminals, a carrier having means for opening and closing the circuits through said terminals, and a coiled thermostatic conductor having a free contacting end, said conductor being ot spring material adapted to permit the carrier tol ride by and then snap into latching relation withsaid carrier preventing its full return.

l2. A switch comprising in combination terminals for starting, battery, generator and ignition circuits, contacts for said terminals, a carrier having means for opening and closing the circuits through said terminals, and a coiled thermostatic conductor having a free contacting end, said conductor being of springmaterialadapted to permit the carrier tok ride by and then snap into latching relation with saidcarrier preventing its full return, and means-manually op erable for disengaging the carrier `and conduct'or. a

13. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an engine starting motor, a magnetic starting Switch, a storage battery for supplying current to said magnetic switch and to said motor, an ignition device adapted to receive current from said battery during the starting operation, a generator adapted to be included in a circuit with the ignition device and battery to supply current for the ignition device and recharge the battery when the engine is running, and a controlling switch for the aforesaid devices comprising a casing, a base having a plurality of terminals and contacts fixed thereto, a reciprocatory contact carrier, spring urged in said casing away from contact engaging relation with the contacts of said terminals, a nose on said carrier, means for moving said carrier to close a circuit through said battery including said starting switch and said ignition device, the nose on said carrier operating to open a circuit including said generator and said ignition device, and means for holding the carrier in running position against the action of its sprin@r permitting denergization of the magnetic switch and the in' clusion of the generator in circuit with the battery and ignition device.

. 14. In apparatus of the character de scribed, in combination, an engine starting motor, a magnetic starting switch, a storage battery for supplying current to lsaid magnetic switch and to said motor, an ignition device adapted to receive current from said battery during the starting operation, a generator adapted to be includedin a circuit with the ignition device and battery to supply current for the ignition device and recharge the battery when the engine is running, and a controlling switch for the aforesaid devices comprising a casing, a base having a plurality of terminals and contacts Y fixed thereto, a reciprocatory contact carrier spring urged in said casing away Jfrom contact engaging relation with the contacts of said terminals, a nose on said carrier, means for moving said carrier to close a circuit through said battery including said starting switch and said ignition device, the nose on said carrier operating to open a circuit including said generator and said ignition device, means for holding the carrier in running position against the action of its spring permitting denergization of the magnetic switch and the inclusion of the generator in circuit with the battery and ignition device, and means for manually operating said last means to release said carrier to the action of its spring.

15. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, an engine starting motor, a magnetic starting switch, a storage battery'or supplying current to said magnetic switch and to said motor, an ignition device adapted to receive current from said battery during the starting operation, a gen- Verator adapted to be included in a circuit with the ignition device and battery to supply current for the ignition device and recharge the battery when the engine is running, and a controlling switch forthe ai'oresaid devices comprising a casing, a base hav ing a plurality of terminals and contacts fixed thereto, a reciprocatory contact carrier spring urged in said casing away from contact engaging relation with the contacts of said terminals, a nose on said carrier, means for moving said carrier to close a circuit through said battery including said starting `switch and said ignition device, the nose on said carrier operating to open a circuit including said generator and said ignition device, and means Jfor holding the carrier in running position l against the action of its spring permitting denergization of the magnetic switch and the inclusion of the generator in circuit with the battery and ignition device, said holding means compriswith starting, generating and ignition circuits, means adapted to open the generator circuit while a contact of said carrier engages the iXed starting contact, means for returningy said carrier to disengage it from n certain of said fixed contacts, and a thermostatic conductor associated with one'of said fixed contacts adapted to serve as a latch to hold the carrier in running position.

Signed at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State` of Massachusetts, this 28th day of February A. D. 1917.

- WILLIAM B. MOSES. 

